MODULE -5

Catalytic Reforming

Q1: What are Lewis and Bronested acid sites.

A1: An acid site on a catalyst where the acidic entity is a positive ion(cataion) such as
Al3+ rather than ionisable hydrogen. On the other hand bronested acid site has acidic
entity in the form of ionisable hydrogen like mineral acis sulfuric acid.

Q2: What is gas oil.?

A2: General term for a product boiling above 1800C. Diesel , turbine and jet fuels are
blended from gas oil.

Q3: What is typical feed range used for reforming?

A3: Typically, the feed to a cat reformer unit for gasoline production is heavy
straight-run naphtha with an initial boiling point (IBP) of 194F and final boiling
point (FBP) of 284F. Benzene is an undesirable component in the gasoline
because of environmental pollution concerns. It is therefore important to
minimize or exclude any benzene precursors in the cat reformer feed by
keeping the feed IBP higher than 1800F. The cat reformer feed is
hydrotreated in a naphtha hydrotreater unit to remove any sulfur, nitrogen,
and other impurities which can poison the reforming

Q4: What is steam reforming and why it is important in petroleum refining

process?

A4: Hydrocarbon steam reforming is an important process for hydrogen

production. Hydrogen is a valuable raw material for chemical and
petrochemical industry and it is also used as a clean combustible. Steam
reforming process transforms a liquid hydrocarbon stream into a gaseous
mixture constituted by CO2, CO, CH4, and H2.
Q5: What is catalytic reforming?

A5: Catalytic reforming is a chemical process used to convert petroleum

refinery naphthas, typically having low octane ratings, into high-octane liquid
products called reformates which are components of high-octane gasoline
(also known as petrol)

Q6: What are the catalyst used in reforming?

A6: Most catalytic reforming catalysts contain platinum or rhenium on a silica

or silica-alumina support base, and some contain both platinum and rhenium.

Q7: What is the purpose of reforming process?

A7: The purpose of Reforming process is to produce high octane number

reformate reformate, which is a main component for motor fuel, aviation
gasoline blending or aromatic rich feedstock. Hydrogen rich gas hydrogen
gas Due to the nature of the reactions, reforming process produces LPG.

Q8: What are the desirable reaction during reforming?

A8:Naphthenes dehydrogenation
Paraffin's Dehydrocyclization
Linear Paraffin Isomerization
Naphthenes Isomerization

Q9: What is the effect of pressure on reforming?

A9: Low pressure encourage dehydrogenation reaction ,while no noticeable

effect of pressure on isomerization may be expected. Coke formation is more
at low pressure. Increase in pressure causes dealkylation very much.
Hydrocracking and elimination reaction are directly related to partial pressure
of hydrogen.

Q10:What is effect of temperature on reforming?

A10:Except hydrogenation reaction which exothermic all other reaction are

favoured by increasing temperature. With increase of temperature, chance of
degradation of product, and coke deposition are likely.

Q11:What is Rhein Forming?

A11: This is a fixed bed regenerative reforming process. Rhenium-platinum

combination are used as catalyst which are quite good in resisting fouling.
This can be operated at press below 20 atm.
Q12: What is Power forming?

A12: Power forming process is designed to operate in cyclic or semi

regenerative unit. Reformate of octane value 85to102+ are common product
of this process